As they moved around they sang a song. The
"verse" was sung by the girl in the lead; her tune was very close to that of
"Bonnie Strathire". The chorus was sung by the rest of the children (but quite a
bit faster than the first part) and their tune was, as close as I remember, "The
Muckin o' Geordie's Byre"
Girl:
I shall go as a wren in spring,
With sorrow and a sighing on silent wing:
As I shall go in our Lady's name
Until I come to my home again.
Chorus:
We shall follow as falcons grey
And hunt thee cruelly as our prey:
But we shall go in our master's name
Until we fetch thee home again.
Fig. 48: Cat and Mouse From the Book of Kells
Girl:
Then I shall go as a mouse in May,
In fields by night, in cellars by day;
And I shall go in our Lady's name
Until I come to my home again.
Chorus:
And we shall follow as black tom-cats
And chase thee through the corn and vats;
But we shall go in our master's name
Until we fetch thee home again.
